Library building demolition to begin Oct. 30

Published: October 25, 2000 12:00 AM

Aweek after the public saw the second set of architectural renderings, the Wayne County Public Library board of trustees approved demolition of the existing buildings on the site, expressed concerns over potential costs of one of the designs and discussed moving on to the next phase of the project.

The demolition project is slated to begin Oct. 30 at the site on Liberty and Walnut streets. Eight homes and garages and two separate structures on Liberty Street will be demolished by Exit C&ampl;D Landfill Inc. of Waynesburg. The demolition is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 8.

Construction manager Ted Bogner, president of BCMC and Bogner Construction, said the $159,580 demolition project will maintain the current blacktop in the lot and fill in the remaining areas with limestone paving material. He said although the salvage belongs to the contractor, interested individuals can request the company to allow access to the debris away from the site.

The trustees also debated the merits of the three exterior designs presented last week. Though some board members expressed a desire to single out a design for the architects, two board members requested more time for consideration and to gain more public comment on the designs.

"I feel we have to keep moving forward," said board president Judy Gatti after the meeting. She said she is encouraging the public to stop at a library branch, view the plans and fill out a comment form.

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Gatti said the board could vote to pass one of the three designs on to the architect as early as Monday at a special board meeting at 4:30 p.m. at Des Dutch Essenhaus restaurant in Shreve.

"I would like to get a grasp on what it costs," said board member Brian Questel. "I don't want to keep going on (the second drawing) and have it $5 million over budget."

While many trustees agreed public support for the second drawing was strong, several noted comments from library staff have been either the first (A) or second (B) design was preferable.

In an informal poll, several board members favored telling architects to proceed with the first design because there wasn't great resistance to the sketch and the design might be more economical to build, operate and maintain. Trustee Reg Kramer suggested putting the second design "on the back burner" because the first design had "a lot more elements of flexibility."

The board also approved director Pam Hickson-Stevenson consult with Arlen Lewis and Robert Benson, two former College of Wooster professors about the exterior look of the building. Gatti said Hickson-Stevenson will "get drawings to them to look over and offer an opinion."